Continuing Education Helps two Hispanic Citizens with Disabilities to Cast Votes

Nov 07, 2008
Ranessa Ashton
Public Information Officer

Two American citizens made history this week—they voted for the first time. It wasn’t the first time because they just turned 18. It was the first time because at ages 48 and 54, they are Deaf and blind and found the help they needed to register and cast their votes.

The help started with San Diego Continuing Education. Juan and Jose Isais are brothers and live together in an apartment in Spring Valley. Both attend Continuing Education classes at the Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) through Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) classes, which is what ultimately led them to the polls on Tuesday.

Instructor Fred Schmitz teaches a Basic Education Class for DSPS students. Juan and Jose are both enrolled. “The Isais brothers come to class regularly,” explained Schmitz. “They arrive to the campus by bus on Monday through Thursday each week, and stay for the full class, which is from 9 a.m. until noon.”

The Basic Education Class is not the first introduction to San Diego Continuing Education for these men. Years ago, each completed the citizenship class offered by Continuing Education, but neither has ever voted because they weren’t registered. They were convinced that too many obstacles stood in their way to complete a voter registration application, much less cast a vote.

This year, San Diego Continuing Education Dean of DSPS and Student Affairs, Anne Heller coordinated a campus-wide voter registration drive. “We wanted to support the district and nationwide effort of encouraging students to register and vote,” said Dean Heller. “But in this case, we took it one step further. We not only encouraged Juan and Jose, we offered to help them with the process.”

Continuing Education DSPS counselor, Leslie Upton, was responsible for the voter registration drive at ECC, and visited each classroom on campus, including the DSPS Basic Education Class. Upton explained the importance of being registered to vote, and offered help to any student who needed it. “Both Juan and Jose were interested,” said Upton, “so we helped them with their applications.”

The help in this case wasn’t just finding a sharp pencil. Without the ability to fully see or hear, these men needed an interpretation of the application form, and help completing the information. The classroom staff includes interpreters trained in American Sign Language. They also use tactile sign language to communicate with the men, which requires them to sign into the hands of the men so they can feel the signs, since they are unable to clearly see them.

After the applications were completed and processed, Juan age 48 and the younger of the brothers, received his official Voter’s Registration Guide so he could become familiar with the candidates as well as the propositions that would be on the ballot. He and Jose, age 54, agreed to vote the same on all candidates and issues.

On Monday, the day before the election, interpreter Fran Miller Del Santo and instructional assistant Susan Rickard, worked in tandem to review the guide in its entirety and help the brothers make notes of their choices. With choices in hand, Juan and Jose were well on their way to casting their first official vote in the United States—and just in time for what could easily be the most historical election held in their lifetimes.

On Election Day, the men were uncertain about where to go. Their polling place was on Skyline Drive in Spring Valley, but there was no organized mode of transportation set for them. Juan took advantage of using the San Diego Police Department for a ride. “It was the first time I rode in the police car,” said Juan. “I was confused and I didn’t know where we were going.”

At the polling place, women captured both men’s signatures and helped them transfer the information from their Voter’s Registration Guide onto their official ballots. Afterward, one was also kind enough to drive the men home.

“I voted for Obama,” said Juan. “I was so happy when I knew he won. I saw the blue states on the news. It was small but I could see Arizona and New York, and California—all blue. I also saw 366 for Obama and only 143 for McCain. I saw in Times Square that people were happy. They were happy for Obama.”

Although both men have been citizens for years, when asked what was different about this election, and why the men voted for the first time now, even though each was a citizen in 2000 and 2004 for the last presidential elections, Jose replied, “The people at ECC helped me, so I wanted to help America.”

Juan said he would like to meet the new President, Barack Obama someday. When asked what he would say if he ever has that chance, Juan replied, “I would say, I voted for you.”

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Continuing Education Helps two Hispanic Citizens with Disabilities to Cast Votes